Waterloo Bridge (5 stars)

In honor of Robert Taylor's August birthday, I decided a re-watch of my favorite of his films was in order.  That film is 1940's Waterloo Bridge, a beautiful Mervyn LeRoy-directed romantic drama which pairs Mr. Taylor with Vivien Leigh.  Tender and touching and very much a tearjerker, Waterloo Bridge is not only my favorite Robert Taylor film, but it has made the jump from being one of my 20 all-time favorite movies to one of my 10 all-time faves.  Though I've reviewed it here before, that was way back when I first started this blog, so in celebration of Mr. Taylor's birthday, I decided to re-work that post a bit.

The story is set in England during the first world war.  Vivien Leigh is Myra, a beautiful ballerina, and Robert Taylor is Roy, a soldier home on brief leave. After a chance meeting in the middle of an air raid, the two fall in love and, in whirlwind fashion, plan to be married.

Unfortunately, before they are able to wed, Roy is called back to the front, and because she had missed a performance in order to bid Roy goodbye at the train station, Myra is fired from her job.  A few months later, Roy is reported as having been killed in battle, and at this news, Myra spirals downward. Devastated by his death, without hope, and now jobless and destitute, she falls into prostitution.

In typical melodramatic fashion, of course, Roy is not dead at all, and he soon returns to town. Myra happens to run into him at the train station...as she is seeking that evening's pickup.



Amazingly, Roy has no idea that Myra is not the innocent girl she once was, and he fully intends to finalize their marriage plans. Alas, though, the shame over what she has become eats Myra alive.

Will Myra tell Roy of her actions during the war? Will it change his feelings for her? Will they get married after all? The answer to all those questions will play out in the remainder of this beautiful, but tragic, film.

This film is a remake of an early 30's film of the same name. I have never seen the original version, only this one, so I cannot compare the two.  If any of you have ever seen the original, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.  This particular film is out on DVD and should be fairly easy to track down.  Additionally, it is on the TCM schedule for Monday, November 5th, at 11:45 a.m. (ET).  Do try to catch it if you can.  I completely love this movie and deem it a definite must-see.

Happy viewing!!

Above and Beyond (4 stars)

Today is the sixty-seventh anniversary of the day the United States dropped the atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, which, when combined with the bombing of Nagasaki a few days later, would bring an end to the second world war. The dropping of that bomb was a very controversial action, and it is not my intent to debate whether or not President Truman made the right choice by doing so.

What I do want to do is recommend a movie which depicts this action and its effects on the crew involved in it. The movie, Above and Beyond, is from 1953 and stars Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker. Although it's a Hollywood movie and, therefore, probably saw much license being taken, it does depict the stress and uncertainty felt by the crew dropping the bomb, specifically focusing on the pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets. Making the decision to go through with that mission was not something he took lightly, nor was it without personal consequences.  Mr. Taylor (as Colonel Tibbets) and Miss Parker (as Mrs. Tibbets) both play their roles to perfection, bringing their characters' very agonized emotions to life brilliantly.



Above and Beyond, a wonderful drama with some excellent aerial footage, would make a fabulous discussion piece.  I do believe the film is out on DVD; however, it is also available, in several different parts, on YouTube.  Try to catch it if you can.

(Just FYI, this film could easily have been included when I listed my 5 favorite Robert Taylor films yesterday; I was hard-pressed to determine if this one, Bataan, or Escape would take positions 4 and 5. Ultimately, I chose the other two over this one, but only by the narrowest of margins.  I really like this film and highly recommend it.)

Happy viewing!!!

Happy Birthday, Robert Taylor!!!

Happy 101st birthday to Mr. Robert Taylor---one of my top 10 favorite actors of all-time.  (August 5, 1911-June 8, 1969).

In some ways, Robert Taylor could be my grandfather.  After all, he was born exactly 3 days before my beloved paternal grandfather...both men observed their centenary in August of last year.  I first discovered the incredibly handsome, beautiful-voiced Mr. Taylor in the early 2000's, when my kids and I were doing an in-depth study of the early Christian church, especially focusing on the persecution of the believers.  Of course, that study led to our discovery of the film Quo Vadis, which is how Robert Taylor came into my life.  (At the time, however, I had no idea that he had a long and distinguished movie career or that he would become one of my all-time favorite actors.)

Born with the name Spangler Arlington Brugh, Mr. Taylor had a career which spanned over three decades, including both film and television.  Given the nickname "The Man with the Perfect Profile," this incredibly good-looking man worked with a variety of leading ladies---some of them being Irene Dunne, Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh, Lana Turner, Eleanor Parker, and---the woman to whom he would be married for twelve years---Miss Barbara Stanwyck.  Their marriage ended in divorce, and a couple years after that, he married Ursula Theiss---a union which produced two children and which lasted until his 1969 death.

My absolute favorite of Mr. Taylor's films is Waterloo Bridge (reviewed HERE).  That beautiful tearjerker, which also stars Vivien Leigh, is one of my ten favorite movies of all-time.

Rounding out my list of five favorite Robert Taylor films are:

2.  Quo Vadis  (with Deborah Kerr)  I think Mr. Taylor is drop-dead gorgeous in this photo.  He improved with age---his pretty-boy looks of the 30's and very early 40's were replaced by an incredibly rugged, masculine handsomeness. (Plus, I'm not a mustache person and far prefer him with his beautiful face clean-shaven.)  And isn't Deborah Kerr completely stunning in this photo?

3.  Magnificent Obsession  (with Irene Dunne)

4.  Bataan  (with Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Nolan, and a host of others---reviewed HERE)

5.  Escape  (with Norma Shearer)

Sadly, just a couple months shy of his 58th birthday, Mr. Taylor succumbed to lung cancer and departed this world at a relatively young age.  His final resting place is in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

So, here's to you, Robert Taylor, on your 101st birthday.  You will always be one of my all-time favorite actors, and I am thankful for all the wonderful, beloved-to-me films you made.  And by the way, you had one of the best voices I have ever heard!

My August Agenda

With so many things going on right now, blogging has, by necessity, taken a back-burner. To my disappointment, I found I didn't adequately showcase Barbara Stanwyck and James Cagney in July, nor did I do a birthday tribute post for #2 gal Susan Hayward back in late June.  I can't promise that August is going to be much better; however, when I am able to blog, these two men---two of August's birthday boys---will be my emphasis.


Robert Taylor

and Fredric March

Both Mr. Taylor and Mr. March are firmly entrenched among my top 10 favorite actors; in fact, they occupy slots 9 and 10.  They often flip-flop with one another, and either of them may occasionally wrestle the #8 position from Tyrone Power.  All that to say, both men are very dear to my heart, and I look forward to showcasing them (as I am able) this month.  I hope you'll join me and perhaps discover some of their lesser-known films.

Bataan (5 stars)

Bataan, from 1943, is a World War II drama starring Robert Taylor and Thomas Mitchell.  Directed by Tay Garnett, this film features the large supporting cast of Lloyd Nolan, Robert Walker, Desi Arnaz, George Murphy, Kenneth Spencer, and Lee Bowman.  Included as part of our Memorial Day weekend viewing this year, Bataan is one of my family's favorite war movies.

The film begins after the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and the departure of American and Filipino troops from the Bataan Peninsula.  With only a handful of men, Sgt. Bill Dane (Robert Taylor) is assigned the task of defending a position and destroying an important peninsular bridge. Though heavily outnumbered by the enemy, Sgt. Dane and his men are determined to fight to the death.

With a well-armed Japanese army lurking unseen in the jungle, the ever-present threat of malaria, shortage of medicine, minimal food rations, and bodily weariness, this small band of men is fighting a nearly-hopeless battle.  However, in the words of Sgt. Dane, "the men who died here may have done more than we'll ever know to save this whole world."





The acting in Bataan is good, the dialogue realistic.  The gun and grenade scenes are extremely authentic, as is the fact that the soldiers represent people of all races.  The ending scene is powerful and quite haunting...one of the best endings I have ever seen in a war film.  All in all, I think this film provides an amazingly realistic account of what happened on the Bataan Peninsula.

Bataan really is a must-see film...especially on Memorial Day.  While horribly depressing because nearly all the defenders die, the film serves as a vehicle to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.  We all should watch this (and other films like it) and then give thanks for the men who gave everything so that we might live in freedom.  Out on DVD, it should be fairly easy to track this one down.

Happy viewing!!

Private Number (3 stars)

Private Number, from 1936, is a romantic drama starring Robert Taylor and Loretta Young, with Basil Rathbone taking on a supporting role.  Though this is not one of either stars' well-known films, since today is Loretta's birthday, I wanted to highlight one of her lesser-known works.    Both Young and Taylor are extremely young here (she is 23/he is 25) and both are looking quite gorgeous.

Looking for a job, Ellen Neal (Loretta Young) shows up at Winfield Manor, where she had heard there was a housemaid position available.  Although she has had no experience, the butler, Mr. Wroxton (Rathbone), decides to hire her on a one-month trial basis.  An unkind man with ulterior motives and an attraction to Ellen, Wroxton tells her she will be responsible only to him and that one of her duties will be to look after his room.  Luckily for Ellen, Mrs. Winfield takes a liking to her, so she is soon elevated to the position of  personal ladies' maid.

One evening, the Winfields host a lavish party, and their college-age son, Richard/Dick (Robert Taylor), is in attendance.  When he spots Ellen, all dressed up in her finery, he thinks she is one of the party guests and begins dancing with her.  When she tries to tell him who she is, he says it doesn't matter.  Before long, Dick and Ellen are in love with one another, though she maintains that no one can know about their relationship, because their different social standings make the relationship inappropriate.  Dick doesn't see it that way, of course, and insists that he wants to marry her.  However, with one more year of college to go, will he be able to do that?  And what about Ellen?  With Dick now back at school and Wroxton nursing a grudge against her, will she be able to remain at Winfield Manor?

While Private Number is not a sensational film, I, nevertheless, found it to be enjoyable and very solid. Taylor and Young had great chemistry together, and I loved seeing them both in these very young years.  (I've actually seen Loretta even younger...in Platinum Blonde.)  They were both totally beautiful here---as they would continue to be throughout their careers.  Oh, and for those who are Basil Rathbone fans, he is in his mid 40's here...and quite handsome.

One thing I found quite comical and/or ironic was a line early in the film when Ellen is on a blind date.  She's talking with her friend Gracie, and Gracie says, "...about as handsome as Gable, and Gable isn't bad."  Loretta's response, "I'll say not."  Given that the previous year had seen her involved with Clark Gable (and bearing his child), I wondered how hard it was to say those words.

Anyhow, Private Number is an enjoyable film, one which I feel sure Loretta Young and Robert Taylor fans will want to see.  While it's not out on DVD,  it is available on YouTube (in several parts).

Happy viewing!!

All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953)

All the Brothers Were Valiant, from 1953, is an action/adventure film, starring Robert Taylor, Stewart Granger, and Ann Blyth.  Based on Ben Ames Williams' 1919 novel of the same name, this film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography.  A remake of the 1923 Lon Chaney film of the same name and the 1928 Ramon Novarro/Joan Crawford film Across to Singapore, it's the story of a pair of 1850's brothers, whalers on the high seas.

As the film begins, Joel Shore (Robert Taylor) returns to his Massachusetts hometown, having been gone on a three-year voyage.  Upon his return, he learns that his brother Mark (Stewart Granger) did not return with his ship from his last voyage.  It was assumed that he had died, possibly at the hands of some South Pacific islanders. 

Joel is given command of Mark's old ship and is to set off on another voyage; however, before doing so, he marries his long-time love, Priscilla (Ann Blyth), a woman who has also had feelings for brother Mark.  Not wanting to leave his new bride behind for two or three years, Joel has Priscilla accompany him on the voyage, and she takes immediately to sea life. 

When they reach the Gilbert Islands---the place where Mark was last seen---it is discovered that he didn't die after all.  In fact, Mark tells Joel the story of how he had discovered a fortune in black pearls but ended up losing them in a lagoon.  He requests that Joel join him in searching for the lost treasure, a request which Joel refuses.  Mark, though, used to getting his own way and used to pushing Joel around, will not take "no" for an answer; he will do whatever it takes to get those pearls, and if that means creating a mutiny and turning Priscilla against Joel, then that is exactly what he will do.

This film is exciting and entertaining and features good performances by all.  It's a solid 3 stars for me, and rather close to 4...definitely a film I enjoy and recommend.  I do think the idea of a newlywed wife  having a "honeymoon" aboard a whaling vessel is a bit off, but, you never know, some women might have done just that.

The film is out on DVD, and it also happens to be on TCM's schedule quite often, so it should be fairly easy to track down.  Hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!